HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-06-24, Page 27Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday. June 24, .2009 - Page A27
Taxpayers hurt most by proposed harmonized sales tax
Tell me if you've heard this one before.
In the lead -up to a provincial election a
candidate promises Ontarians that he will
never raise your taxes, he's elected and
WHAM, a new health premium (tax) is in-
troduced by the same dude.
Next election, same candidate , with a
long list of promises still to be honoured
from the last campaign, once again dazzles
the electorate with another promise of no
new taxes.
What do we do?
We elected the fellow again.
Apparently we didn't learn our lesson
because the second time lucky Premier
sticks it to us again with the introduction of
a harmonized (or blended) sales tax.
The HST or as many are now calling it
the "BS" tax will see consumers in Ontario
pay eight per cent on a long list of items,
adding it to the five per cent federal GST.
Enjoy Canada Day this year Ontario
because if the government has its way, on
July 1, 2010, few Ontarians will feel much
like celebrating as the HST kicks in hitting
families where it hurts the most... their
wallets.
A short list of the kinds of things we'll be
paying more for includes: ski lift tickets,
legal services, train fares, bikes, tobacco,
furnace repairs, moving vans, landscap-
ing courier fees, grass -cutting, domestic
air travel, homes over $500,000, golf green
fees, health fuels, accounting services, bus
fares, taxi fares, veterinary care, bike hel-
mets, manicures, car washes, dry clean-
ing, conferences, real estate commissions,
coffee and donuts, gas, newspapers and
magazines, electricity, hair cuts, stamps,
heating oil, internet access fees, theatre
admissions, adult footwear costing $30 or
less, home renovations, gym fees, funerals,
snowplowing, electrician services, sport
facility rentals... And the list goes on, and
on, and on.
An even shorter list of items exempt from
the tax are: books, children's clothes and
footwear, child care, booster seats, femi-
nine hygiene products
and diapers.
While the sentiment
behind the tax is to give
businesses and corpora-
tions a break, opposition
to the BST is growing
by the day.
The Canadian Tax-
payer Federation recog-
nizes that while it may
be a good idea in princi-
ple it's the wrong move
at the wrong time and the wrong way.
Instead of a simple blending of the PST
and GST the McGuinty government will
apply new tax on items we haven't paid
PST on previously.
To deaden the blow, Premier McGuinty
is going to try to soften the tax impact by
paying families $1,000, but critics charge
that will not nearly be enough to offset the
cost to middle-income families.
Suspect also is the timing of the $1,000
"gift", which sees the cheques arriving to
households just prior to the next provincial
election.
The good news in all of this is that it's
still not a done deal.
There are a growing number of ways
in which taxpayers and consumers can
send Dalton McGuinty a clear message to
change his mind about this ill-timed tax on
everything.
Newly -minted Ontario New Democratic
Party leader Andrea Horwath - has launched
a campaign to stop the implementation of
McGuinty's "tax grab" Folks may add
their names to a petition at http://ontari-
onndp.coin.
Interim leader of the Ontario Progressive
Conservatives, Bob Runciman, is quoted as
saying that "nickel-and-diming Ontarians
to death with more taxes is just wrong!"
Kicking Ontarians when they're down
is just unfair, so the PC's invite citizens to
sign their petition at www.daltonsalestax.
com/Petition.aspx.
If you'd like to send a clear message to
Premier McGuinty that you are against the
balanced tax write to www.premier.gov.
on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp.
I'm also sure that Huron -Bruce MPP
Carol Mitchell will be glad to convey local
sentiments to the Premier on your behalf if
you send a note to cmitchell.tnpp.co@lib-
eral.ola.org.
As you make sum-
mer vacation plans
this year. spend
some time taking
a good look at just
how much the BST
will cost your family
and consider letting
your voice be heard.
NON -DENOMINATIONAL
WEDDINGS
CHRISTENINGS
'our ocation or •urs
Rev. Chris Morgan
Pastor Paula Morgan
519-524-5124
CLICK COMPUTER
REV. CHRIS MORGAN
lin pretty sure that the McGuinty gov-
ernment is counting on taxpayers and con-
sumers to give him a tree pass on what is
poised to be one of the largest tax increases
in Ontario's history.
It's not too late to turn this around.
Don't be fooled again.
Student Paintei's
& 1)ii't Work
Interior & Exterior Painting • Dump Runs • Yard Work
If you have a dirty job you don't want to do, call us!
Local Mana • er Kara Sloe ' es •
1-877.889-3760
SHEAR
TALENT
Noir Wok
414,0041
for men & women
45 West Street
GODER1CH
--- Please call —
Melissa or Debbie D.
519-524-6555
Walk-ins Welcome!
NOTICE
to the
Ratepayers of
The Municipality of Central Huron
INTERIM TAX BILLS
Second Installment
Due June 26, 2009
Monthly Payment plan available.
Vitte
Canada Day
2009
In order that our staff may enjoy
the Canada Day Holiday,
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Photo submitted
Book sale success
Doran Love, Scotiabank Manager, Cathy Semple, centre, and Linda Mabon,
two volunteers with Huron Hospice, are pictured celebrating the end of a very
successful fundraising event at the Goderich Soctiabank branch in support of
Huron Hospice. Generous book donations from readers and customers of the
bank resulted in more than $400 being raised in just over a month. Huron
Hospice plans to hold similar book events throughout the county through the
summer months to help readers find good summer reading material.
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